Blowpipe and rod-feeding mechanism therefor



y 26, 1942- El P. JONES 2,283,932

BLOWPI PE AND ROD-FEEDING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Dec. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR 4 9 E EVERETT P. JONES ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1942 BLOWPIPE AND ROD-FEEDING THEREFOR Everett P. Jones, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to I Oxweld Acetylene Company, a corporation of West Virginia Application December 21, 1940, Serial No. 371,067

(crest-43) f 16 Claims.

. directing a jet of oxidizing gas onto the same,

and more particularly to means cooperativewith such blowpipes to feed a predetermined quantity of oxidizable metal into the path of said jet to facilitate the start of, the metal removing operation. This invention constitutes an improvement upon the construction shown in United States Patent No. 2,205,890, issued June 25, 1940.

As disclosed in Patent 2,205,890, the start of a cutting, deseaming, or similar flame-machining operation may be expedited by depositing a molten globule of oxidizable metal onto the work at the starting zone, to react with the oxidizing jet, and thereby provide sufficient exothermic heat to raise the temperature of the starting zone substantially instantaneously to the ignition point. The oxidizable metal conveniently is provided in the form of iron or steel wire, which is advanced in predetermined increments in the direction of its length, toward the blowpipe nozzle. When relatively small gauge wire is used, it may be propelled along the blowpipe handle and thence in a devious course toward the discharge end of the blowpipe nozzle, as the wire submits to the bending action imparted during its travel with no appreciable resistance. Frequently, however, the starting wire is in the form of a relatively rigid straight rod which does not bend easily, and hence requires feeding along a straight path. It is customary to support such a rod. in spaced relation to the blowpipe handle in position to be fed across the discharge orifice of the blowpipe nozzle. The'spaced position of the starting rod precludes embodying the rodsupporting and feeding mechanism into a compact arrangement, and exposes the rod to inadvertent bending or other damage.

The present construction overcomes the foregoing undesirable features by providing a straight tubular guide extending along and fitting directly against the handle portion of the blowpipe, through which guide a starting rod may be fed. The nozzle and adjoining gas-delivery tubes are formed into a gooseneck so that the blowpipe head is offset from the handle, bringing the discharge orifice of the nozzle adjacent to the end of the rod extending from the guide.

The objects of the present invention are: to provide improved apparatus for starting and performing a deseaming, cutting, or similar flameremoving operation; to provide an improved blowpipe adapted to discharge, a metal-removing jet, and having means for advancing portions of a combustible wire -rod into the path of such jet; to provide. means for suppgrtingand guiding a rod along the. handleportion of a blowpipe, and for feeding such rod directly adjacent to the discharge orifice of the blowpipe nozzle; tozprovide a blowpipe having the dischargeportion of its nozzle substantiallyaligned with the axially-projected main handle portion of the blowpipe; and to provide an improved wire-feeding mechanism adapted positivelyto advance a wire in predetermined' increments in the direction of its length. These and other objects of the'invention maybetter be understood by reference to the following specification-and the accompanying drawings, in which: r V V Fig.1 is a side-elevational view of an improved manually-controlled deseaming blowpipe incorporating features of the invention, shown in operating position on a ferrous metal body;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side-elevational view partly in section of the handle portion and valve body of theblowpipe shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the delivery tubes at a point immediately beyond the I mixer, as taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;.

Fig. i is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the blowpipe handle, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the rod feeder, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; r I 4 Fig. 6 is a sectional View through the feeder, with parts in elevation, taken on the line 6-6 of and Figs. '7 and 8 are elevational views of modified forms of rod feeders that may be employed with the present invention.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a blowpipe or torch T having a main handle portion H, provided at its inlet end'with a valve body -V for regulating the flow of oxygen and combustible gas from connections C. Delivery tubes D connect the handle H with a substantially right-angled head E, which in turn supports a suitable nozzle N. The parts cooperate to form an arch adjacent to the nozzle so as to form a gooseneck or bend B, offsetting the head from the handle and shifting the nozzle from its usual position so that the discharge portion thereof becomes aligned substantially with the projected axis of the handle H. A guide G extends along the handle H in position to direct a straight wire rod W directly across and in front of the discharge end of the nozzle N, in the path of the jet projectedtherefrom. A rod feeder F, secured to the gooseneck B, advances the wire W toward the nozzle N, in response to the movement of an actuator A. A lever L controls actuator A, and may, if desired, also control one or more of the valves in the body V, as shown in Fig. 2.

Although the present invention has been illustrated as a starting-rod mechanism applied to a metal-removing or flame-cutting blowpipe to provide accelerated preheating, it is obvious that the principles of the invention may be applied to rod feeders and blowpipes generally, as it is often advantageous to provide heating or welding blowpipes with means for feeding strips of brazing, welding or similar rod toward the nozzle or tip of the blowpipe.

More specifically, the apparatus comprises a blow-pipe or torch T having a substantially straight tubular handle portion H near one end thereof. The valve body V at the inlet end of the handle is provided with adjusting knobs II and I2 to adjust the proportions of acetylene and oxygen flowing from the inlet connections C to tubes within the handle H. The lever L controls the flow of cutting oxygen through valve IS in a conventional manner. Delivery tubes D comprise a mixture conduit l4 and a cutting-oxygen conduit I5 both of which extend from the handle H in substantially parallel relation to the axis thereof, forming straight portions Ill. The blowpipe is provided at its forward end with a conventional deseaming nozzle N secured to a head E carried by and in fiuidcommunication with the conduits l4 and [5. The nozzle N is adapted to project preheating flames and an oxidizing jet in an angular direction relative to the handle axis and obliquely against the surface S of a steel body, The portions of the conduits l4 and I5 adjoining the head E are arched or bent relatively to the axis of the handle H, forming inclined and offset portions 20 which cooperate with the head E and nozzle N to form the arch or gooseneck bend B adjacent to the nozzle. The discharge end or orifice of the nozzle N is thus displaced laterally from its ordinary position to a point substantially aligned with the axial projection of tubular handle H.

The guide G preferably comprises a tubular member rigidly secured against the handle so as to be located directly adjacent to the periphery of the handle, as shown in Fig. 4, being held in position in any convenient manner, for example, by means of clips I 6 and IT. The rear clip 18 may comprise a simple metallic band by which the guide G may be soldered or otherwise secured against the valve body V, as shown in Fig. 2, while the forward clip I! may comprise an apertured plate through which the delivery tubes D and the guide G extend, as shown in Fig. 3. The forward clip preferably is soldered to the tubes and to the guide to hold the parts permanently in the desired parallel relation. By aligning the guide G along the handle H in the manner shown, a straight wire or rod W, inserted from the rear, may be supported adjacent to the handle periphery for lengthwise movement in a path that extends directly across and in front of the orifice of the nozzle N.

The rod feeder F is secured to the blowpipe in any convenient manner, to advance the rod W in predetermined increments of the rod length. As best seen in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the feeder F comprises an elongated housing I8, clamped. at one end to the conduits l 4 and I 5, preferably adjacent to the bend B, so that the major part of the rod nals for a ratchet feed wheel or roller 25.

feeder is located within the region or concavity formed by the arched conduits l4 and I5, and so that its outer end is in line with the guide G, to permit the rod from the latter to pass through the outer end. The housing [8 is provided with entrance and exit openings [9 and 2| axially in line with guide G, respectively, which openings are fitted with suitable bushings 22 for closely accommodating the wire or rod W. Detachable cheek plates 23 and 24, which form side walls for the housing I8, are apertured to provide jour- The wheel 25 is rotatably mounted within the housing in such a position that its periphery tangentially engages the wire W. The frictional engagement between the wheel and the wire may be increased by an idler roller 26 that resiliently presses against the wire at a point directly opposite the point of engagement of the wheel 25.

A pair of parallel guides 21 extend across the housing 18 at a point spaced from the wheel 25 and preferably lie substantially parallel with the wire W, A cross head or drive shoe 28 is slidably mounted for reciprocatory movement along the guides 21. aperture 29 at a point between the guides 27, which aperture extends through the housing in a direction substantially parallel with the guides 21 at a point in alignment with the shoe 28. A cable or connector 31 is secured at one end to the shoe 28 and extends through the aperture 29 to an operating point adjacent to the handle H. The cable 3|, which is reciprocated by mechanism to be more fully described, pulls the shoe along the guides 21 during the upward stroke of each cycle. A compression spring 32 mounted on each of the guides 21 at a point between the shoe 28 and the housing l8 urges the shoe downwardly after each upward stroke.

The shoe 28 includes a pawl-supporting mechanism having a pawl adapted to engage and par tially rotate the ratchet feed wheel 25 during upward or feeding strokes of the shoe. A support 33 is slidably mounted with respect to the shoe 28 for transverse movement toward and away from the wheel 25. The support 33 preferably comprises a threaded pin 34 and a dowel 35 which are slidable within corresponding apertures in the shoe 28 to guide the support in its transverse movement A compression spring 36 urges the support toward the wheel 25 until lock nut 31 abuts against the shoe 28. A yoke-shaped pawl 38, best seen in Fig. 5, is pivotally mounted to an outward extension of the support 33 and is adapted to cooperate with ratchet wheels 39 mounted on opposite sides of the feed wheel 25, to rotate the wheel 25 partially during each upward stroke of the shoe 28. During the downward stroke of the shoe 28 the pawl pivots against the action of leaf spring 4| and slips over the desired number of teeth on the ratchet wheels 39 as determined by the amplitude of the reciprocatory motion.

The cable 3| which is soldered or otherwise secured at one end to the shoe 28 extends upwardly toward the handle H through a suitable protective flexible casing 42 secured at its lower end to the housing l8. The casing 42 may extend through the forward clip H, as shown in Fig. 3, and may continue upwardly parallel to the straight portions l8 of the tubes D to within thehandle H at a point between the respective tubes D,-. as shown in Fig. 2.

' Actuating mechanism A, which is located adjacent to the handle, operates the rod feeder F The housing [8 is provided with an by reciprocating cable 3|. The-actuating means A preferably comprises a pivoted element 43 se-- cured to a clampingplate 44 within the blowpipe handle H, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Preferably the element 43 is provided with a circular peripheral portion 45. A link 46 connects the lever L with the element 43 and imparts pivotal motion to the element when the lever L is depressed.

As shown in'Fig. 2, the cable or connector 3i is pivotally connected at its upper extremity to the pivoted element 43 as by a turnbuckle 40, which turnbuckle further is useful in adjusting the length of the cable to normal operating conditions. Accordingly, when the lever L- is depressed, the resulting clockwise movement of the element 43 translates the connector 3| longitudinally relative to the handle to thereby lift the shoe 28 along the guides 21.

A tension spring 41 is secured at one end to the handle or valve body V and extends forwardly within the handle for connection with the element 43 at a point substantially opposite the connections joining element 43 with-link 45 and turn buckle 40, respectively. Preferably, use is made of a flexible cord or band 48 which extends from the forward end of the spring to the element 43 which band is wrapped around at least a part of the peripheral portion 45. Accordingly, as the lever L is depressed, the element 43 is rotated in a clockwise direction while the spring 41 is expanded uniformly in opposition thereto. The spring 41 returns the element 43 to its normal position when the lever L is released. A stop 49 may be provided on the plate 44 to engage a shoulder'5l so as to limit the counter-clockwise movement of the element 43.

In operation, the blowpipe T is positioned againsta work surface S in the manner indicated in Fig. 1. The preheating flames are ignited and the cutting lever L depressed partway to feed a small portion of wire W into the path of the preheating flames, which portion is heated substantially instantaneously to the ignition point. By

further depressing the lever L, little or no further movement of the Wire W occurs, but the i" oxygen valve opens to apply an oxidizing jet to the heated portion. An exothermic action ensues and the products of the reaction are directed against the surface S to inaugurate the deseaming or other metal-removing operation produced by the oxidizing jet on the workplate. At the completion of the metal-removing operation, the lever L is released and the spring 41 retracts the element 43, thereby lowering shoe 28 and resetting the feeder mechanism for a subsequent operation. r Fig. 8 1 discloses a modified form of feedin mechanism applicable to the structure disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6. A modified ratchet feed wheel or roller 52 is mounted within the housing [8 for cooperative engagement with the rod W. The roller 52 comprises a pair of spaced peripheral flanges 53 adapted to tangentially engage the rod W. The flanges 53 are separated by a ratchet wheel 54 of smaller diameter than the flanges. The roller 52 is rotatably supported by a pivotally mounted journal 55 which permits the roller to move toward and away from the rod W about pivot pin 50,-and allows the use of rods of diiferent diameter. A reciprocating lever 56, which is actuated by cable 3| about the axis of roller 52, forms a support for pawl 51. During the forward stroke of the lever 55, occasioned by upward movement of the cable 3|, the pawl en ages the ratchet wheel 54 and rotates the roller 52 to advanc'e the rod W by a predetermined amount. At the same time the lever'56 urges the roller 52 about the pivotGO of the journal 55, forcing the roller into closer engagement with the rod. Accordingly, during every feeding stroke of the lever 55, the roller 52 is'compressed' against the rod W to provide greater frictional contact. A spring 58 returns the lever 56 to its normal position. An adjustable auxiliary spring 59 surrounding a threaded stud 6i engages the pivotally-mounted journal 55 and urges the journal in a clockwise direction about its pivot 60 to maintain the roller 52 constantly against the rod W. Pressure of roller 52' against the rod W is made more positive by the engagement of an idler roller 65 against the opposite side of the rod.

Fig. '7 discloses a further modified construction of a feed wheel of the same general type as that shown in Fig. 8, but wherein the drive roller comprises a toothed wheel 62, the teeth of which directly engage the wire W. In this arrangement the axis of the wheel 62 is fixed and the rod W is urged into contact with the wheel 52 by means of a leaf spring 63 engaging the wire W directly opposite the point of contact of the wheel 52. The reciprocating lever 54 operates substantially as indicated in connection with the lever 56 of Fig. 8. Y

It is to be understood that other modified forms of construction, which will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the principles of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

. I claim:

1. A blowpipe comprising a straighthandle portion; a nozzle; tube means connecting said handle portion and said nozzle in such manner that the discharge end of said nozzle is substantially aligned with the axial projection of said handle portion; and a guide secured directly against said handle and adapted to supalong and immediately adjacent to the periphery of said handle; a nozzle angularly positioned with respect to saidhandle; and delivery tube means extending between said handle and said nozzle and being adapted to conduct said gases from said handle'to said nozzle, said tube means being arched adjacent to said nozzle to-locate the discharge end of said nozzle in substantial alignment. with the axial projection of said wire.

3. A blowpipe comprising ahandle; connections adjacent to one end of said handle for admitting oxygen and combustible gas to said handle; a head; a nozzle in said head; delivery tube means for conducting said gases from said handle to said head, said tube means being so shaped movement in a path extending along said handle and across and directly in front of the discharge orifice of said nozzle; a rod feeder adapted when operated to advance said rod bya predetermined incremental length along said guide toward said nozzle; and actuator means adjacent to said handle adapted to operate said rod feeder.

4. A blowpipe as claimed in claim 3 wherein said guide comprises a tubular member secured along its length in fixed adjoining relation to said handle in substantially parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

5. A blowpipe as claimed in claim 3 wherein said arch forms a concavity and said rod feeder is secured at one end to said arched tube means and extends into said concavity, and wherein the opposite end of said feeder terminates substantially at the path followed by said rod, said opposite end having openings aligned in parallel relationto the axis of said handle for receiving said rod.

6. Metal-removing apparatus, comprising a blowpipe having a substantially straight handle; inlet connections at one end of said handle adapted to admit oxygen and combustible gas; a nozzle adapted to project preheating flames and an oxidizing jet in angular relation to the axis of said handle; delivery tubes extending from said handle to saidnozzle and being adapted to convey oxygen and combustible preheating gas to said nozzle, said tubes extending away from said handle toward said nozzle in substantially parallel relation to said handle axis, the portion of said tubes adjacent to said nozzle being arched relativel to the axis of said handle to cooperate with said nozzle in forming a gooseneck, the discharge end of said nozzle being aligned substantially with said handle axis; a guide on said handle adapted to support a starting rod for Sliding movement lengthwise of said handle in a path extending in front of and adjacent to the discharge orifice of said nozzle; a rod feeder secured to said arched tubes and extending therefrom into the concavity formed by said gooseneck, said feeder being adapted to advance said rod toward said nozzle; and actuator means adjacent to said handle adapted to operate said rod feeder.

7. In a blowpipe having a handle, gas inlet connections on said handle, and a nozzle at the forward end of said blowpipe in fluid communication with said handle, wire-feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a feeder secured to said blowpipe andadapted to advance a wire in the direction of its length toward said nozzle; a lever on said handle; and an actuator controlled by said lever for operating said feeder, said actuator including an element mounted within said handle for pivoting movement about an axis substantially normal to the axis of said handle, a link connecting said lever with said element and adapted to pivot said element from a normal position, a connector joining said feeder with said element and movable longitudinally relatively to said handle when said element is pivoted thereby to operate said feeder, a stop cooperative with said element for limiting the pivoting motion of said element, and a tension spring secured at one end to said handle and at its other end to said element said spring being adapted to return said element to said normal position.

8. In a blowpipe having a handle, gas inlet connections on said handle, and a nozzle in fluid communication with said'handle; a wire feeder connected to said blowpipe and adapted to advance a wire longitudinally toward said nozzle, said feeder comprising a housing having entrance and exit openings adapted to accommodate said wire; a ratchet feed wheel rotatably mounted within said housing in position to frictionally engage said wire tangentially of said wheel; a guide supported by said housing in spaced relation to said wheel; a drive shoe mounted for reciprocatory movement along said guide; and a pawl extending from said shoe and adapted to cooperate with said ratchet feed wheel to rotate said wheel partially during alternate strokes of said shoe.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 including an additional guide parallel to said firstmentioned guide and wherein said housing is provided with an aperture at a point between said guides, said aperture extending in a direction parallel with said guides and being aligned with said shoe, and including a reciprocating cable extending through said aperture and connecting with said shoe within said housing.

10. In a blowpipe having a handle, gas inlet connections on said handle, and a nozzle in fluid communication with-said handle; a wire feeder connected to said blowpipe and adapted to advance a wire longitudinally toward said nozzle, said feeder comprising a housing having entrance and exit openings adapted to accommodate said wire; a ratchet feed wheel rotatably mountedewithin said housing in position to engage said wire tangentially of said wheel; guide means supported by said housing in spaced relation to said wheel; a drive shoe mounted for reciprocatory movement along said guide means, said shoe including a support slidable transversely of said shoe toward and away from said wheel, and spring means for urging said support toward said wheel; and a pawl extending from said support and adapted to cooperate with said ratchet feed wheel to rotate said wheel partially during alternate. strokes of said shoe.

11. Apparatus for feedinga rod lengthwise toward a blowpipe nozzle, comprising a housing mounted onsaid blow pipe, said housing being provided with aligned entrance and exit passages for receiving said rod; a ratchet feed roller adapted to engage said rod at the periphery of said roller; a pivotally mounted journal for said roller, said journal being swingable to urge said roller into closer engagement with said rod; a pawl-support pivotable in alternately opposite directions about the axis of said roller; and a pawl on said support in engagement with said ratchet feed roller and adapted during the forward pivotal stroke of said support to partially rotate said roller, and simultaneously to urge said roller about the pivot of said journal into closer engagement with said rod.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including auxiliary spring means operative on said journal to urge said journal about its pivot and maintain said roller continuously against said rod.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said roller comprises a wheel having spaced peripheral flanges adapted to engage said rod, and a ratchet of smaller diameter than said flanges located between said flanges.

14. A blowpipe comprising, in combination, a straight tubular handle; a head; a straight nozzle detachably connected to said head and inclined relativel to the longitudinal axis of said handle; gas conveying tubes connecting said head to one end of said handle, said tubes being bent intermediate their ends to provide straight portions parallel to said longitudinal axis and portions inclined to said axis to ofiset said head from said axis; a straight starting rod guide parallel to the straight portions of said tubes and secured to the latter; and a starting rod feed mechanism comprising a housing secured to the inclined portions of said tubes, said housing having a passage therethrough in line with said guide and the region directly in front of the outlet of said nozzle, means within said housing for engaging a rod within said passage, and a device extending along the straight portions of said tubes and into said housing to actuate such rod-engaging means to advance a rod along said guide toward said region.

15. In a blowpipe having a handle, a wirefeeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a feeder secured to said blowpipe and adapted to advance a wire in the direction of its length; a lever on said handle; and an actuator controlled by said lever for operating said feeder, said actuator including an element mounted within said handle for pivoting movement about an axis substantially normal to the axis of said handle, a link connecting said lever with said element and adapted to pivot said element from a normal position, a connector joining said feeder with said element and movable longitudinally relatively to said handle when said element is pivoted thereby to operate said feeder, said element being provided with a curved peripheral portion; spring means; and a flexible cord for connecting said spring means with said element, said cord being wrapped around at least a part of said peripheral portion.

16. A blowpipe comprising, in combination, a tubular handle; a head; a nozzle detachably connected to said head and inclined relatively to the longitudinal axis of said handle; gas conveying tube means connecting said head to one end of said handle, said tube means being bent to provide straight portions parallel to said longitudinal axis and portions inclined to said axis to ofiset said head from said axis; a straight starting rod guide parallel to the straight portions of said tube means and secured in directly adjoining relation to the latter; and a starting rod feed mechanism comprising a housing secured within the ofiset formed by the inclined portions of said tube means, said housing having a passage therethrough in line with said guide and the region directly in front of the outlet of said nozzle, means within said housing for engaging a rod within said passage, and a device extending along the straight portions of said tube means and into said housing to actuate such rod-engaging means to advance a rod along said guide toward said region.

EVERETT P. JONES. 

